Book Description

Life is a tangle of
twisting paths.
Some short.
Some long.
There are dead ends.
And there are choices.
And wrong turns,
and detours,
and yield signs,
and instruction booklets,
and star maps,
and happiness,
and loneliness.
And friends.
And sisters.
And love.
And poetry.

Life is a maze.
You are a maze.
Amazed.
And amazing.

Reviews (1)

Richie's Picks: A Maze Me
"Ringing


A baby, I stood in my crib to hear
the dingy-ding of a vegetable truck approaching.

When I was bigger, my mom took me out
to the street
to meet the man who rang the bell and
he tossed me
a tangerine...

...the first thing I ever caught.I thought
he was
a magic man.

My mom said there used to be milk trucks too.
She said,
Look hard, he'll be gone soon.And she was right.
He disappeared.

Now when I hear an ice-cream truck chiming
its bells, I fly.
Even if I'm not hungry--just to watch it pass.

Mailmen with their chime of dogs barking
up and down the street are magic too.

They are all bringers.

I want to be a bringer.

I want to drive a truck full of eggplants down
the smallest street.

I want to be someone making music
with my coming."

And so she is. And so she does.
A great joy that accompanies a new book of poems by Naomi Shihab Nye is the expectation that she will begin reappearing at national conferences and conventions, reading aloud from her latest collection. The good feeling I've taken away with me from her past workshops is about as close as I get to church these days.

A MAZE ME contains seventy-two of Naomi's latest poems. Younger teens will find these pieces easy to read and relate to. Hopefully, many will be intrigued and inspired by Naomi's ability to create poetry from such sources as a car manual, a newspaper article, a taco sign, "the hair on the head of the girl in front of me in school," Julia Child's patting potatoes, or a vapor trail "X" that a pair of planes have inadvertently left in the sky.

Being a book of "Poems for Girls" there are also the requisite handful of "longing" poems:

"High Hopes


It wasn't that they were so
high, exactly,
they were more
low-down,
close-to-the-ground,
I could rub them
the way you touch a cat
that rubs against your ankles
even if he isn't yours.

So yes I feel lonely without them.
Now that I know the truth,
that I only dreamed someone liked me,
the cat has curled up in a bed of leaves
against the house and I still have to do
everything I had to do before
without a secret hum
inside."

Despite being a guy, I really enjoyed the images and memories conjured up by these poems. Whether reading "Visiting My Old Kindergarten Teacher, Last Day of School," "Turtle" (about the persistent creature that had walked for twenty years), or "Across the Aisle" (about the little girl who coughed "every 30 seconds for seven whole hours" on a transatlantic flight), I've repeatedly interrupted Rosemary's reading on the couch and Shari's grading papers at the kitchen table in order to have an audience with whom to share the poems aloud.
"Big Head, Big Face
(what my brother said to me)


If your head had been smaller
maybe you woulda had less thoughts in it,
maybe you wouldn't have so many troubles.
This is just a guess but seems to me
like a little drawer only hold a few spoons
and you can always find the one you need
while a big drawer jammed with tongs
strings corks junky stuff receipts birthday cards
you never gonna look at
scrambled and mixed so one day
you open that drawer
poke your hand in and big knife go
through your palm
you didn't even know a knife was IN there,
well, that's why I think
it might not be so bad to have a little head
with just a few thoughts few memories few hopes
maybe if only one little one came true
that be enough for you."

Luckily for us, Naomi Shihab Nye has carefully sifted through that drawer to provide an entertaining assortment of poetic images, thoughts, stories, and yoga poses. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Don't miss this amazing book
This is Mark Peter Hughes's first novel, and I can't recommend it enough. It has everything you could ask for -- it is funny, touching and never ever boring. The characters are very likable. I really hope he is going to write another one soon!

What a fun read!
This book is great!It is a fun, fast-paced read that pre-teens and teens will love!The characters are people they will recognize and relate to!

... Read more

Reviews (57)

Burning questions left unanswered.
Will Nate and Georgina, his new rehab pal, end up being an item?
Will Jenny and her new man live happily ever after? Will Jenny's new best friend Elise interfere?
Will Blair get into Yale? Will Elise's father ever get the chance to explain why he tried to get with Blair romantically? Will Blair stop loving Nate?
Will Serena continue to be famous, ditzy, and wanted on all the runways?
Will Dan and Mystery Craze, the yellow-toothed and yellow nailed poetess, fall madly, deeply in love?

Will Vanessa, Dan's girlfriend, find out that he hasn't merely been cheating, but CHEATING CHEATING??? Will she survive?
Is Chuck Bass bisexual?
And, the most burning question of them all...
WHO IS GOSSIP GIRL?
All of these questions are left unanswered till book number five. Quite frankly, it's infuriating. What leads to the end is suspenseful and enthralling - you will be so absorbed you'll be unable to put this book down till it's over. Nate ends up caught for his weed smoking and is forced to attend rehab meetings, where he meets a beautiful Snow White lookalike named Georgina Sparks. Blair decides she wants to go to rehab too for her bulimia, yet really wants to be close to Nate again. She sees him with Georgina and her entire plan is thrown off. Not only that, but she finds that a handsome Yale graduate who she senses has feelings for her is the FATHER of one of her younger classmates at Constance Billard. Dan, on the other hand, thinks he is in love with Vanessa until he meets eccentric Mystery Craze and ends up cheating. Clearly, his fame over his poetry has diluded his mind. Jenny meets her admirer and bonds with Elise, her new best friend, over nude figure painting and 'experimentation,' which she deems 'overrated.' Serena lives a carefree, no-worries life, becoming a model and having success practically knock at her door. So much more happens in this book, you'll be dying to read the next so that all of these loose ends can finally be tied together. Recommended age: 13 and up.

Sex, fashion, drugs and...Yale?!
This, in my opinion, is one of the better Gossip Girl books, despite some of the less kind reviews. The GG gang makes a plethora of effortless achievments: Dan's published poem in the New Yorker, Serena suddenly transforming into a glam model, Vanessa's film being used as a backdrop for the long-anticipated NYC fashion show.

And then there are some things not to flaunt and take pride in. Like Blair's botched Yale interview and Nate's getting busted for smoking weed, for example. Blair tries to redeem herself by speaking to one of the Yale alumni and prospects of him putting in a good word for her seem good. But then, an affair begins between them (innocent type, I'd say). As for Nate, his landing into a clinic for problem teens introduces Georgina Sparks, an ethereal Snow White-type beauty who has an ugly problem with prescription drugs. They chill at her grandiose palace and Nate saves her from nearly dying of a prescription overdose. Blair, meanwhile, realizes her sexy leading man isn't the Clark Gable to her Audrey Hepburn she thought he was. When Blair tries to win back Nate's love, she humiliates herself at the clinic, first by admitting to her bulimia. Plus, she meets her new competition. Now, Georgina Sparks is vying for Nate's affections, only the vying really seems to be over with. Georgie's clearly won.

I find it irking Serena has no real issues in any of the books, unless you count her almost being a leper when she first returned to New York from boarding school. Still, she was quickly able to bounce back from that "trauma." Now, she debuts as a runway model in the fashion show, one in which Christina Ricci is a guest. Meanwhile, she's fallen head over heels in "love" with Aaron, Blair's sexy, herbal cigarette-smoking stepbrother.

Vanessa submits Dan's poem, "Sluts," to the New Yorker. "Sluts" proceeds to head on towards worldwide fame. Mention the title and instantaneously, the New York population knows just what you're talking about. And despite the fact that Dan is angry at Vanessa (he channeled the anger into the poem), he is pleased to have that recognition - it goes to his head. Proof of this is his affair with Mystery Craze, the yellow-toothed and yellow-nailed poet who Dan finds incredibly sexy for some peculiar reason. Also proof of his insanity is his agent, who feels the need to use the expression, "%$^& me!" in almost every sentence. I wanted to smack her, strangle her, or both.

In conclusion, Von Ziegesar's novel can either make you yearn to be one of the members of the GG gang or feel sorry for them. Their parents are self-centered and don't care at all for the well-being of their children. These spoiled Manhattanites are permitted do do whatever they want, whenever they want, as long as they keep up their appearances up so that it doesn't reflect badly on the family. No matter what, however, this novel is entertaining and an ideal addition to the GG series.

Great book!
I really love this book. Being 17, being their age, really makes it a lot more enjoyable to read. I even suggested this book to my 14 year old cousin! It truly is a pretty accurate representation of teens today, even though these teens are uber-rich, super cool, trendy, and did I mention rich? I love the interesting, dynamic people (even though Serena is pretty shallow, I still think she'd make a pretty awesome best friend), and I like the way the author balanced the super rich kids (Blair, Serena, Nate, etc.) with the kids that live in their world, but live in it rather on the outskirts (Dan, Vanessa, etc.) I loved this book so much, I couldn't resist buying the newest Gossip Girl (number 5!) a few days after it was released. Super read, pure fun, great beach/teen fiction!

addictive
these books are so addictive! i read them in one sitting (usually becuase i cant tear myself away from them) i suggest if you want to read one, get the other ones because you will want to read those ones too!
i am so pissed that lindsey lohan is playing blair in the gossip girl movie. i just dont see her as that part at all. shes a little too---immature, i guess. i mean shes a good actress but she just doesnt fit the part. i think that someone like samarie armstrong of rachel leigh cook should play her. it will probably be rated like PG even though the books are more PG-13-R.
ANYWAY i really reccommend these books to everyone they are light easy addictive funny and amusing. Have fun!
~you know you love me

Because I'm worth it
My 14 year old Daughter read this book rather quickly. She said it was interesting but predicatible and the ending was weird. ... Read more

Book Description

The Ultimate Teen Girl Bible
What do you do when . . . you're at the lunch table and you knock your soda over into someone's lap? Or, you need a job? You hate your clothes? You're broke? Inside, more than 100 experts tell you how to deal with these problems and so much more. GirlWise is one-stop shopping for all the stuff you want to, you need to, you MUST know!
GirlWise includes contributions by:
·Hillary Carlip, author of Girl Power
·Atoosa Rubenstein, editor-in-chief of CosmoGIRL!
·Nancy Gruver, publisher of New Moon
·Laura McEwen, Publisher of YM
·Marci Shimoff, coauthor of Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul
·Meg Cabot, author of The Princess Diaries
·Brandon Holley, editor-in-chief of ELLEgirl
·Isabel González, senior associate editor of Teen People
You'll find great tips from experts in fashion, business, etiquette, sports, and more to help you become the Ultimate Teen Girl—confident, capable, comfortable, cool, conscious, and taking control of your life. No more helpless females here! ... Read more

Reviews (9)

One of the Best Books I've Read!
I'm a freshman in highschool and I wish I would have had this book even before middleschool. It is the best, for anything! It teaches you things from confidence and starting a band, to being a good shopper and unclogging a toilet. It has things I didn't even expect. Even the topics I wasn't interested in I read, and it helped me in the future. Its easy to navigate, and not even boring once. I've read the entire thing, and keep it around for a refresher once and a while.

it ROCKS!
I just got this book for early Christmas. I cant put it down.Its really good! Ive been reading it for 2 days. My sisters 17 and she got a copy too and totally loves it too. its all out straight up the truth. My friends and I have been sitting in the lunch room reading the book out loud to know all this new stuff like fashion and like doing laundry and giving a speech in school. Theres nothing out there like it.

Got a daughter/grand daughter? THIS book is a must!
Where was this book when I was growing up? If your are uncomfortable with yourself, find yourself in awkward situations or just don't know what to do in quasi-emergencies as, I admit, happened to me more than once, Girlwise is the book to go to. Not only is it full of advice on such diverse topics as self confidence to creating your own web site to, my favorite, what to do about a clogged toilet, but it is witty and a great read. Situations are dealt with by not only professionals in the field but by teens themselves.
This grandmother is giving Girlwise to all the girls she knows from preteen (be prepared) up.

This book is incredible
GirlWise covers just about any situation I might be in where I need to be cool and calm and make a good impression. From job interviews to party planning, this book has it all. My fave is "How to write a poem." Very inspiring. All the women who give advice in this book are so cool and amazing. Awesome role models. It's like getting 100 mentors for different parts of life that are so important, all in one.

I wish I was teenager now!
I always said I would never want to relive my teenage years. Now that I have read this book, I would love to go back. This book could have saved me from a lot embarassment and depression. It is a must have for any teenage girl today. It's like having a user manual for teens. If you are a parent of a teen girl, you have to get this for her. She will love you for it. It answers the question every teen has, "Am I the only one that feels this way?" or "Does this only happen to me?". ... Read more

Reviews (18)

A very good book for the young girl!
I bought this book for my 9 year old daughter who has yet to start her period. I wanted to give her some information without boring her or confusing her. This book covers many good topics in such a wonderful way! It explains things I wouldn't of thought to explain (emergency situations, bra sizes etc.) I did read this book with my daughter since it does cover the topic of intercourse which I don't feel she needs to know the details of yet. It explains the parts of her body without being overly graphic (pictures are of female organs only) which is wonderful. Overall it has given her confidence in what she is and will be going through. She asks questions and is no longer afraid of what is to come. I'm so glad to have found this book!! I will be using it again with my younger daughter when the time comes.

Perfect first "growing up" book for the preteen girl
I have been searching for a book for my daughter (she turned 10 today!) that will help me to explain some of what will be happening to her body over the next few years. So many of the books contain too much information about sex, birth control, etc., that I feel is more appropriate for an older girl (say, 13 and up). This book, though, is just perfect for her age. It touches on all the things I think are important (breast development, first period, pubic hair and so forth). The information, language and tone of this book are just right for a girl who is still a little girl but who will not be for much longer. I am totally comfortable with reading this book to my daughter and then discussing it with her over time. I am sure she will want to take it to read on her own later, too. A wonderful book that I cannot recommend strongly enough for 9-13 year old girls.

Patronizing, lacks good illustrations
I was extremely disappointed in this book, given the glowing reviews it has received here. The introduction describes the author's fond memories of her uninhibited mother asking her to fetch sanitary napkins, walking naked around the house, and positioning her breasts in her bra. Perhaps this book is best suited to the daughters of similarly uninhibited women. I found the semi-burlesque description embarrassing, and worried my daughter will feel deprived because her mommy values a modicum of privacy. The cartoonish diagrams were vague and unhelpful. I'm afraid the introduction set the whole tone of the book, and I found the rest just plain annoying. I will save this book for when my daughter is 13, she may find it amusing. In the mean time I'll get a good anatomy book, explain what all the "parts" are for, and go from there.

Informative book for girls
My daughter is 9 and found this book to be very interesting. It answers alot of questions girls have and are afraid or embaressed to ask. This book opens the doors to communication, a must have for all girls to read!

Not what I expected...
I was very disappointed when I receieved this book that I ordered for my nine year old daughter. In fact, I have decided not to give it to her at this time. I think it is for a little bit older girl or one who is already "maturing". I was looking for a "first" book about periods, growing/changing bodies, etc. From the reviews I read online, that is what I thought it was. It seems more geared towards girls who are already experiencing these life changes. ... Read more

Book Description

A vicious captain, a mutinous crew --
and a young girl caught in the middle

Not every thirteen-year-old girl is accused of murder, brought to trial, and found guilty. But I was just such a girl, and my story is worth relating even if it did happen years ago. Be warned, however: If strong ideas and action offend you, read no more. Find another companion to share your idle hours. For my part I intend to tell the truth as I lived it.

Reviews (266)

The book was great, I loved it
I have just read the book "The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle" by Avi. This book was both an adventure novel and a mystery. There are three main characters in this book; Charlotte, Captain Jaggery, and Mr. Zachariah. Charlotte is thirteen years old. Before she went on her voyage she attended the Barrington School for girls in Liverpool, England. Captain Andrew Jaggery was a brutal captain to his crew. He also befriended Charlotte in the beginning of the story before she accidentally whipped him in the face. Zachariah was the cook on the ship for awhile until he faked death and lived in the steerage. He also became good friends with Charlotte throughout the whole book. The story takes place in 1832, on a ship called the Seahawk that left Liverpool, England and sailed for Providence, Rhode Island. The book was very interesting. It was about a girl, named Charlotte, who had just finished school and was ready to come home. Her parents got her a boat ride so she could get back to Rhode Island. When she got on the ship everyone seemed very nice, until the crew decided to take avenge on the captain. This is where it started getting hectic. Zachariah faked death they found a stowaway and Charlotte decided to become on of the crew. When she was blamed for murder and found guilty, I got scared. Well, if you want to no the ending read the book yourself. Some of my favorite scenes were with Zachariah in the steerage, because they were talking mostly about what was happening in the book and I could understand it more. I Also liked the scenes because Zachariah was my favorite character. The book was exiting. I would rate it an eight out of ten. I think you would like the book if you like adventures and aren't afraid of reading

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle/a must read
Sahana Rajan 11/23

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle By: Avi
0-53105-893-X

Join Charlotte Doyle on a historical fiction voyage across the Atlantic on the "Seahawk". Piloted by the murderous, yet cunning Captain Jaggery, the "Seahawk" has all of its ups and downs with Miss Doyle on board. During the summer of 1832, Charlotte is to return to America from England in what her father thinks is a posh way. Yet, to his unknowing, there is a huge plot forming in which Charlotte must lose her fancy ways and join as a sailor. At the same time she is accused of murder.
The reason I like this book is probably because the suspense keeps you reading. I would recommend this to any young teen who likes to read. Charlotte is always making puzzles and putting them back together and it's fun to do it with her. Your mind wanders while you read this book- but not off of the book. It wanders to parts of your brain where you can tap into to discover what's happening.

Live vicariously through Charlotte!
I first read this book at age 11 when I received it as a birthday present. That was 12 years ago, and I've re-read it many times since then. To a sheltered, suburban kid, the idea of a young girl being thrown into a difficult situation on her own and then making a success of it was thrilling. I loved escaping into the adventure. Unlike most children's books, this one wasn't afraid to throw in some real danger and suspense ... along with important lessons about finding out who your real friends are and being true to yourself.

dis book sux
this is the dumbest book i have ever read in my entire life besides the secret garden that book is even dumber the rating that i gave this book is too high. I would have liked to have given it negative stars. If you read this book be prepared to be bored out of your mind for approximately 210 pages. Enjoy! (not really) lol

Thrilling High Seas Adventure
The year is 1832, and thirteen-year-old Charlotte Doyle is excited to make an interesting voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, being transported from Liverpool, England, home to her family in Providence, Rhode Island by way of ship. She is lead to believe that other families with children her age will be accompanying her on this trip, as it is improper for a girl of her age to be traveling with a group of men, but when they never show up, she is forced to board by herself, and is soon thrown into a tailspin. Before Charlotte even knows what is going on, she is not only accused of murder, but brought to trial, and found guilty, as well. This is her story. The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, as she lived it.

THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF CHARLOTTE DOYLE is an amazing work of literary fiction, that will stay with the reader for years and years to come. Charlotte is an intelligent, strong willed, strong minded, and brave young girl, who makes the best of all of the challenges she faces on her journey. She is not afraid of a little hard work, and even enjoys it to a certain extent. Through her adventures she keeps her head up and a smile on her face, just to prove to everyone around her that she can do anything that a man can, and sometimes she can even do it better. A must have book for anyone interested in historical fiction, as this is one of the best.

Erika Sorocco ... Read more

Book Description

Mary Alice's childhood summers in Grandma Dowdel's sleepy Illinois town were packed with enough drama to fill the double bill of any picture show.But now she is fifteen, and faces a whole long year with Grandma, a woman well known for shaking up her neighbors-and everyone else!All Mary Alice can know for certain is this: when trying to predict how life with Grandma might turn out . . . better not.This wry, delightful sequel to the Newbery Honor Book A Long Way from Chicago has already taken its place among the classics of children's literature. ... Read more

Reviews (96)

A Year Down Yonder
A city girl named Mary Alice, moves in with her rigged, cunning Grandmother in the horribly small country town of Wabash, Illinois. Because of the Depression , Mary Alice is sent to live there while her family goes through their own rough time in Chicago. She is forced to adapt to the totally new life style of her grandmother which some would not wish on their worst enemies. Her grandmother has a very rugged way of going about things, that creates quite a stir in this little community. Before long, Mary Alice gets accustomed to her grandmothers tricks and schemes against the towns people and realizes country life isn't that bad after all.

I couldn't put this book down the first time I read it because the author writes about their adventures so vividly and exciting. Each trick they play on the town keeps the reader in suspense for the next clever and humorous adventures to come. This book is a laugh-out-loud kind of book so be prepared.

This book would be a great book for children to understand the struggles in forming a good relationship between Grandchildren and Grandparents.

A Year Down Yonder - - A wonderful book WE LOVED IT!!!
A historical fiction book designed for children around the
fifth grade, it is a wonderful story of how a "rich
Chicago girl," Mary Alice, is forced to go live with her
grandmother in rural Illinois after her father looses his
job during the Great Depression. Thinking such destiny
could be nothing short of sheer misery, Mary Alice dreads
her trip to live with crazy Grandma Dowdel. Throughout the
book, however, she goes through various adventures-a
tornado, Halloween pranks, Christmas surprises, club
fundraisers, and even a lesson in love-to discover that
her Grandmother and the sleepy rural town is full of love
and compassion that was often lost in the big city lights of
Chicago. Mary Alice learns that even when she leaves the
small rural town, she'll forever carry the heart of her
often intimidating, but sweet and genuine, grandmother with
her. A very lovely story with an incrediblyhappy ending!
This book helps children appreciate that times during the
Great Depression were not easy on anyone and that, many
times, people had to make due with what they had. It
focuses on what brings real satisfaction and happiness into
people's lives. This fine piece of children's
literature could be used with parents and teachers to
promote the study of social interactions, history, literary
characteristics, and changes in technology and
communication. Teachers especially would find the book's
detailed style of writing easy to incorporate activities

across the curriculum, including history, geography, math,
science, and the arts.

A Year Down Yonder
I liked the second book in this series even more than the first becuase it was funnier, catchier and the ending was very happy and nice! In both of the books, it is written from Grandma Dowdel's point of view. She is the funniest, wackiest, coolest Granny in the world...if she really exsisted. I hope that one day not too long from now, a third book will come out and if not, the definetely a movie. Out of all the books I have ever read, these two just about top them all. If I were to suggest any book ever, it would ahve to be one of these. Sometime in the near future, if I have the time, I would love to read these two great books again!!!

A Year Down Yonder
A Year Down Yonder takes place in 1937 and Mary Alice's life is turned upside down due to the recession. Her dad loses his job in Chicago and she has to go stay with her feisty grandmother in a small hick-town. Grandma Dowdel is an isolated woman, but one thing Mary Alice does know about her grandmother is she never knows what kind of scheme she will plan next. As this grandmother and granddaughter spend time together, they experience some interesting episodes and develop a loving relationship. Mary Alice also discovers that behind these outlandish schemes Grandma Dowdel has a good motive to help other people of the community.

Richard Peck turns Mary Alice's difficult situation into an amusing story with laugh-out-loud humor. Mary Alice and Grandma Dowdel's sense of humor is expressed through their witty perception of the other characters. The reader is left in suspense wondering what kind of chaos this grandmother and granddaughter will create next. I highly recommend this Newbery Medal winning book to examine a different kind of relationship between grandparents and grandchildren.

One Touching Novel: A Year Down Yonder
A Year Down Yonder, by Richard Peck, gives its readers entertainment as well as little hope of developing good relationships with their grandparents. This Newbery Medal Award winning book was set in a small town called Wabash in the late 1930s. Peck created an atmosphere where all of his characters lived through the Depression. The reader gets some view of how the living conditions were in those days. The novel started when Mary Alice was being sent to live with her grandma. Grandma was one of those people that was disliked by many of the town's residents. Mary Alice really didn't want to stay at Grandma's house, and she wasn't ready to leave her parents and friends behind.

I would definately suggest this book to anyone that may have some sort of disliking towards their grandparents. It shows its readers that many people do not take the time to actually get to know their grandparents. Grandparents are very important in one's life and no one should ever take them for granted. A Year Down Yonder depicts the true characteristics of grandparents: caring, protecting, and trusting. This book also keeps the reader interested. It tells of the many adventures that Mary Alice and Grandma went on and it also developes a lot of conflict throughout. Everyone enjoys a little conflict. Peck did an excellent job in developing his characters. The readers are able to create a picture in their minds of how each character may look. Even though this novel is considered a children's book, I would recommend it to readers of all ages. It will touch everyone's heart in a special way. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"I kept wanting it to happen. When it did I remember thinking, 'It'sabout time.'"

"I was worried at first. Then it really wasn't so bad after all."

"I remember my brothers weren't allowed to hit me in the chest anymore. I waskind of pleased about that."

What mysterious condition are these now grown-up girls talking about? Ah, yes,puberty! With scads of personal stories and an abundance of useful, detailedinformation about girls' changing bodies and feelings, author Lynda Madaras andher daughter Area Madaras have expanded their guide for girls on the verge ofchange. First published in 1983, the bestselling classic has been revised andupdated several times over the years to keep up with ever evolving facts andwisdom about puberty in girls. In this third edition, the authors continue theirstraight talk on the menstrual cycle, reproductive organs, breasts, emotionalchanges, puberty in boys, body hair, pimples, masturbation, and all the otherfun, scary, and interesting things that go along with growing up. Filled withanecdotes, illustrations, diagrams, and honest, sensitive, nonjudgmentalinformation for the young girl, the revised edition also addresses the newscientific facts about when a girl actually begins puberty (earlier thanpreviously thought), advice on "female athletic syndrome," eating disorders,unwanted attention because of early development, and information on eatingright, exercise, AIDS, STDs, birth control, and so much more. A welcome,reassuring book for parents and daughters, designed with the understanding thatsome girls and parents will want to read it together, and some will want to readit on their own; without a doubt, though, all will benefit. Got boys?Don't miss What's Happening to MyBody? Book for Boys. (Ages 8 to 15) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Good info, but better for older readers...
I have to agree somewhat (not completely) with one of the reviewers... This book is not well suited for girls who are nine or ten (my daughter is nine and a half). It's got a lot of good information, but some of the illustrations are too graphic (my daughter found the ones of male genitalia very disturbing, and she is not immature for her age). The age span on this book should be adjusted upwards to more like 12 and up, not 9 to 13.

That being said, this book covers a lot of ground, and for the most part does so well. It has a lot of important information found in books of this type: stages of puberty, signs to look for, the female reproductive cycle, bras, getting one's period, and so on. All these things are presented clearly, although again, I feel they're geared more towards older girls, rather than pre-teens.

All in all this is an ok book, but not excellent, and is not appropriate for the age range it's listed for. Buy this book for a 12 year-old or up, but don't push the envelope with younger girls, they don't need the pressure that such graphically displayed information provides, which can overwhelm them.

All girls should be as lucky as I was...
I am 21 years old now and stumbled upon this page looking for "our bodies, ourselves". When I was about 10 years old my mother gave me this book as a way to help bridge our inability to communicate well on personal topics. It helped me immensly, as well as a few of my girl friends who's mothers (gasp!) never said a word to them about anything they were going through. I had one friend who didn't understand when her mother told her their were "napkins" in the hall closet when she needed them, and that's all she ever said to her daughter. I reccomend that ALL mothers (and fathers, too) give their daughter at least one book like this, in addition to open, frank conversations. There is nothing pornographic about the pictures in this book. They are NOT photographs - they are drawings that are informative, rather than specific examples. Madaras is careful to explain that her illustrations are not what every girl's body looks like - and explains how things can vary. I read this book over and over again when I needed it, and was able to easy navigate to the information I was looking for. One of the most important aspects of this particular book for girls is that is has information about what is going on with their male counterparts, which helps girls feel less insecure when they read about how embarrassing things can be for the boys. I highly reccomend this book to girls 9 and up, but if your daughter is immature for her age, 10 or 11 might be a better age to introduce her to some of the information, as the book deals touches on topics such as sex and AIDS - which are better left to the parents' disgression at that age.

Great
My Mom bought this book for me when i was 12 and it really helped. It answered all of the questions that i wanted to know but was too embarrassed to ask. Plus it had things that other girls my age had writen in. I recomend it to girls 12 and +

ALL A YOUNG GIRL NEEDS IN A BOOK ABOUT BECOMING A WOMAN
This book covers every topic a girl is curious about as she enters puberty, (a few she might not be curious about yet, but will need to know about BEFORE she is twelve. With children becoming sexually active at 13 and not knowing how easily a girl become pregnant and teen AIDS on the rise--this is information that every girl needs to have. Buit are parents ready to let them have it before they need it, so they can be prepared to make informed choices and know why NO is the correct answer???

ONLY FOR PARENTS WHO WANT THEIR DAUGHTERS WELL INFORMED
This book has draeings and diagrams and honest language about body changes and sexuality and it answers many questions that most 9-14 year old girls are thinking. (Many don't ask because they are either too shy or too afraid). Warning, if you think giving children information is going to cause them to be sexually active, don't buy this book. Because it has all the information a preteen could want. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

This book is a great book for us young girls
This book is great for us young girls because it talks about relationships with boys, and everything in that book helped me a lot! I think that it's great about telling really young girls about 9-12, about puberty etc.

3 and a half stars for a helpful book!
As a 12 year old just begging to think of boys in any romantic way, this book helped a lot with crushes, imtroducing yourself, dealing with friends who are jelous, ect, ect. Then, once you gte into a relashionship, there is a big question mark. I would still reccomend this book, but only for 11-13 year olds who havn't had a real relashionship yet.

A GIRLS GUIDE
THIS BOOK IS GREAT FOR US GIRLS CAUSE IT HELPSWITH MANY SIRUTIONS WERE ALWAYS IN. I LOVED THIS BOOK IT HELPED ME GET OUTY OF MANY SITUTIONS. ... Read more

Book Description

Ask Annie your most complex interpersonal relationship questions. Go on, we dare you!

All letters to Annie are subject to publication in the Clayton High School Register. Names and e-mail addresses of correspondents guaranteed confidential.

High school junior Jenny Greenley is good at solving problems ... so good she's the school newspaper's anonymous advice columnist. Even if solving other people's problems doesn't make her own -- like not having a boyfriend -- go away, it's still fun. But when nineteen-year-old screen sensation Luke Striker comes to Jen's small town to research a role, he creates havoc that even levelheaded Jenny isn't sure she can repair ... especially since she's right in the middle of it.

Can Jen, who always manages to be there for everybody else, learn to take her own advice, and find true love at last?

Book Description

Reviews (22)

The Whale Rider
This is a beautiful work that fills one with the chills of destiny. I decided to read the book after seeing the movie, and though the movie was very good, the book gives a greater flavor of the Maori culture.
Koro Apirana is the chief of the tribe but he is disappointed when a girl first-born child comes instead of a boy. His eldest son's first wife dies, sealing the destiny for Kahutia Te Rangi to be the only heir to the chief. Her name also, is the one of the ancestor who was the first to come to their land, and the first whale rider. Koro's wife, Nanny Flowers gets their son to name her that, but afterward everyone says she's gone too far. Kahu proves to be a strong child, who loves her grandfather even though her love is not returned. When she hears the whales calling, destiny is calling her too. Witi Ihimaera's magical tale of Kahu brings a sense of the strength of the Maori culture to her readers. There is more to the book than the movie.

Movie v. Book
I read the book after seeing the movie, and found the book to be grittier. The book explains the myth of Paikea (Kahutia Te Rangi), the whale rider, in more detail, and explores Maori social issues in more depth. The story is also told from the perspective of someone other than Kahu (Pai).

The book stirred my imagination very differently than the movie. The movie had an ethereal quality that the book doesn't have as much, but the book explores the mystery surrounding the myth in a way that the movie doesn't begin to touch upon.

This book is immensely respectful of its characters, their failings, fears, and shortcomings, and despite the fact that the book centers on a founding myth, its humanity and compassion will move you. I highly recommend this engrossing, moving read, even to adults. In terms of an appropriate audience, children under ten or eleven might be upset by some of the scenes in the book, ranging from whaling practices to the consequences of an auto accident.

Beautiful, magical, ...
I didn't know about the incredible Maori author Witi Ihimaera until I saw the movie. After seeing it, I had to read the book. Don't expect it to be just like the movie, but I highly recommend both the book and the movie. The basic question is can a girl be a Maori leader? I really enjoyed learning more about Maori traditions and beliefs as well as the wisdom of the elder characters. For example, I thought the custom of burying the birth cord was fascinating.

The book had additional levels of folklore and mythology. I don't want to get into details as not to spoil the story, but I have a few general comments. I especially found the mother wise in naming the child and the play or power play between man and woman is a recurring theme. Karen Woodworth-Roman

One "Whale" of a Novel
Author Witi Ihimaera has written a wonderfully delightful novel about a young girl's (Kahu)quest for her grandfather's love. A grandfather so deep into tradition he refuses to acknowledge her love and the new traditions of change. He passionately looks for the new whale rider, which will lead the village and his people. Often missing that the leader is right under his own house in female form. The story is told through her uncle, Rawiri ( which is a slightly different interpretation than what is in the excellent film version of this work). This is novel for all ages to read and appreciate regardless. I was pleasantly surprise at the amount of depth here in the novel and the wonderfully imaginative way the story unfolds. I can't remember when I last heard whales talk to each other, or when I laughed so hard at the all too familiar antics and love between grandmother, Nanny Flowers and grandfather, Koro Apirana which left me pleasantly nodding my head. For all of us who have ever dreamed that they were destined for more in life this is a must read.
"Hui e, haunmi e, taiki e" Let it be done!

Eight-year-old Kahu craves her great-grandfather's love
Eight-year-old Kahu craves her great-grandfather's love and attention, but he is focused on his duties as chief of the Maori in New Zealand and has little time for her. She stands to be the heir of her kingdom, as there is no male to take over, and struggles to honor herself in the face of her tribe and grandfather despite her sex in this moving story of achievement. ... Read more

Book Description

With compassion and insight, an expert counselor shows teen girls how to find the solutions to stress and anxiety that lie within

Parents, schoolwork, boyfriends, college . . .it's enough to make any teenage girl wish she could just snap her fingers and make it all go away. But with the click of her heels, she'll soon discover that the means to dealing with stress were always within her power. Dealing with the Stuff That Makes Life Tough helps teenage girls find the wisdom within to overcome stress in their lives.

A serious self-help guide for teenage girls that is neither preachy nor condescending, Dealing with the Stuff That Makes Life Tough uses real-life anecdotes to help readers triumph over difficulties. Common teen anxieties include:

• Body image
• Dating
• Divorce
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Friends and bullies
• Substance abuse
• Gay and lesbian issues

The book also includes short introductions of each subject, expert quotes, statistics, key points, reading lists, Web pages, and toll-free numbers.

Reviews (4)

Excellent True to Life Book. Would highly recommend
I read this book two weeks ago and it has really changed my attitude about myself. It was extremelly helpful and I would recommend it to anyone. This book will definetley help you with all of life's little problems.

Practical advice for teens, insight for parents
I found this book really useful. It speaks directly to teens and offers specific techniques for handling problems like peer pressure, sleeplessness, sadness and others. A lot of the advice still applies to me as a grown woman - I tried some of the suggestions for insomnia, and they really worked! It was also eye-opening for me as a mother to read the anecdotes from teen girls and understand their problems from their point of view. I think it is so useful that I have also bought copies for each of my teenaged nieces. I recommend it to any teen girl and her parents.

I write for a teen magazine and I see a lot of books...
but this is one of the best advice books to come across my desk. Jill helps me with my advice column in ym, Ask Anything, and, like this book, her ideas are always clear, succinct, non-condescending, and creative. It's very hard to find something new to say about typical teenage dilemmas like talking to parents who won't let you date, but Jill manages to have fresh takes on all of the problems she addresses. I'd definitely recommend this for any teenager who finds herself stressed and confused by the ins and outs of life.

Awesome and refreshingly honest with concrete solutions
This author gets right to the core of insecurity with body image, friendships and the painful process of dealing with divorce when you love both parents. In a gentle but experienced way, this therapist has an acute awareness and sensitivity to an adolescent's concerns.

As a teacher and mother of two daughters, I found this book to be a "bible" of knowledge. ... Read more

Book Description

After discovering that teens don’t read the Bible, Thomas Nelson found that teens do read magazines! Thus, the idea to put the Bible in a magazine format with the purpose of showing teens that the Bible could be relevant and understandable. Revolve – the complete New Testament for teen girls – became America's #1 selling Bible in less than 3 months after it was originally released. This phenomenon of a “Bible that looks like a magazine” surpassed all expectations but most importantly, teen girls love Revolve! Now, this best-selling Bible has been updated and revised with all new sidebars, features & images but the same Bible text! This is the perfect Bible for any teen girl who is trying to figure out what in the world the Bible has to do with her life today!

Amazon.com

Soldiers, scientists, performers, writers, entrepreneurs, politicians, quilt makers, pilots... as author Lynne Cheney writes, "America’s amazing women have much to teach our children--and much inspiration to offer us, as well." Coming on the heels of America: A Patriotic Primer(Cheney’s previous collaboration with illustrator Robin Preiss Glasser), A Is for Abigail celebrates the achievements of women in American history, with a special emphasis on the individuals who helped win equal rights for women. As with America, Cheney uses an alphabet book format to introduce hundreds of remarkable real women: "O is for SANDRA DAY O’CONNOR and others who were first." In addition to the first woman Supreme Court Justice, the "O" page includes Wilma Mankiller, first woman chief of the Cherokee Nation; Jeannette Rankin, first female member of Congress; and Nellie Tayloe Ross, first woman governor. Glasser’s playful illustrations are lively and busy, inviting readers to explore Abigail Adams's farm or the crowded city block that houses "V is for VARIETY," with its DNA lab, dance studio, dentist office, and "PERSONS at WORK" sign. Snippets of information about each featured woman give a taste; ideally, readers will seek more in-depth biographies about the historical figures who pique their interests. (Ages 6 to 9) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (17)

A is for Amazing
This is a wonderful primer on the history of women in America. It paints a very vivid picture, using wonderful and engaging illustrations to draw you into what is a picture narrative. In spite of what some reviewers have said, the diversity in this book is wonderful. Harriet Tubman and Sacagawea are on the front cover of the book, two of five women featured, and Rosa Parks is featured on the back cover alongside Sandra Day O'Connor and Eleanor Roosevelt. As someone who works in the educational publishing field, it is obvious that a lot of thought was put into representing women from various ethnic backgrounds. Apart from the real non white women featured including: Mary McLeod Bethune, Ida Wells-Barnett, Sui Fin Far, Madame C. J. Walker, Harriet Tubman, Bessie Coleman, Lena Horne, Pearl Bailey, Judith Jamison, Chita Rivera, Rita Moreno, Hazel Harrison, Annie Dodge Wauneka, Charlotte Ray, Zora Neale Hurston, Euphemia Lofton Haynes, the list of women of color and other backgrounds depicted in this book (the list goes on and on), the illustrator has worked hard to include depictions of minorities in the incidental art. I honestly don't understand the diversity complaints at all; they must have been looking at another book. I would recomnd A is for Abigail to girls and women of all ages and men as well. It's just a whole lot of fun to look at and you'll learn a few things about the amazing women who did great things for our country.

A Beautiful Tribute To Women
In this beautiful book, the accomplishments of women throughout American history are described briefly but with great attention to detail. Women from all walks of life, as well as all backgrounds and generations are represented, and it is a little surprising to discover how many women achieved greatness even before the current generation. As a woman and mother of 4 girls, I find this book delightful, informative, encouraging, interesting, and lovely to look at. The illustrations are colorful and lively, perfect for children of all ages. I strongly recommend adding this book to your home library.

A lovely and meaningful book.
"Remember the Ladies," Abigail Adams told her husband in a 1776 letter. In fact she went so far as to warn him, "If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation." Unfortunately it was not until the 1900s before women were able to vote. Still, they found many ways to make their mark, have their say, and get their way.

Presented in the format of an alphabet book, A IS FOR ABIGAIL is a remarkable collection of stories about women who have made a difference in the history of the United States. Each beautifully illustrated, often annotated, page is packed with information and quotes. We are shown how women have been able to make a difference in various aspects of life, despite opposition. They have been fliers, artists, business people and inventors, to name only a few occupations.

Robin Preiss Glasser finds the most extraordinary ways to present this information. For example, the letter F stands for "First Ladies." Portraits of them are shown on teacups, milk jugs, sugar bowls, coffee pots, and teapots. The women who made their mark in the press are shown on the front of a newspaper, while those ladies who gained fame as performers are shown on a stage.

By the time we close this extraordinary book we feel empowered, knowing that women have achieved so much in a world that has not always been hospitable to their successes. We should all be proud of and grateful to Lynne Cheney and her wonderful illustrator for creating such a lovely and meaningful book.

--- Reviewed by Marya Jansen-Gruber (mjansengruber@mindspring.com)

Wonderful Children's Book
My daughter loves to look through this as I read it to her. She loves alphabet books and this one teaches her about her country.
I would highly recommend this book.

Abigail Adams and hundreds of other American women
You might think that from the title of "A is for Abigail: An Almanac of Amazing American Women," that Lynne Cheney (yes, the wife of the Vice President of the United States), is going to introduce us to twenty-six women, one for each letter of the alphabet. You might be wondering if Cheney is going to go by first names or last names, since Abigail is Abigail Adams (the wife of the first Vice President of the United States) and you could go either way. The answer to the second question is the Cheney uses last names but more importantly on the first point she introduces us to a lot more than twenty-six American women. For example, "D" is for Emily Dickinson, the country's greatest poet, but the names of other poets from Edna St. Vincent Milay to Sylvia Plath, while "F" is for the First Ladies from Martha Washington to Laura Bush, and includes a great quotation from Barbara Bush's great commencement speech at Wellesley College in 1990. Then you should see the four page spread that opens up to show all the performers for "P," from Carol Burnett to Katharine Hepburn, or everything that is crammed into the two pages on "U" for US history.

The back of this book includes Notes on the Text that provides details about all 28 of those poets and some of the First Ladies. The illustrations are by Robin Preiss Glasser, who collaborated with Cheney on "America: A Patriotic Primer." Hopefully one day young readers will be able to appreciate the details that Glasser puts into her art, such as having Carol Burnett in the infamous curtain dress from the "Gone with the Wind" parody and doing the painting of Mary Cassatt in the style of a Mary Cassatt painting. This book intends to bring to light the "remarkable (although often unmarked) achievements of American women." Young readers should be captivated just by what they learn about Abigail Adams on the opening spread of this engaging volume, and if what little they learn here about Althea Gibson, Elizabeth Peabody, Jane Addams, Nellie Bly, Anne Sullivan and the rest of these American women inspires them to find out some more details about even a half-dozen of them, that would certainly be a step in the right direction. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Amelia Earhart-Young Aviator
Amelia Earhart was a very courageous young pilot, and she helped inspire young women to fly. In the book, Amelia Earhart: Young Aviator, by Beatrice Gormley, in the Childhood of Famous Americans series, the author describes Amelia Earhart as extraordinarily brave. This book tells almost everything a person would want to know about Amelia Earhart.

Amelia flew her plane until she wanted to retire. Before she retired, though, she wanted to make one last record-breaking flight. She planned to fly around the entire world, making stops only to refuel her plane. Near one of the islands she was supposed to land at, she mysteriously disappeared into the fog. No one knows what happened to her. We don't even know where she lies. We just know of her great achievements. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

"Young Woman" a Great Book, But Slightly Dissapointing
This is a great book for any Christian teen girl to work throgh. It is divided up into different sections that focus on purity, serving, etc. Each gives real life examples and discusses how teens can make a difference at school, home and church with their faith. George provides lots of information and helps teens to easily apply these concepts to their life. A lot of girls would benefit from this book! I have learned more from this devotional from any other I've read.
However, some of the "work" in this book seemed like school. Readers look up a lot of scriptures and write a lot, and it's a bit irritating. I'm also surprised that George is writing a book for teen girls when she is much older. Sometimes I felt like she had unreasonable standards, was a bit old fashioned and was talking down to readers. (EX: She was telling readers to keept their rooms clean.) This is a better devotional for girls than most others out there, but still has its down points. Overall, though, girls will benefit from George's insights.

Great Lessons, but we're teenagers
This was a great book except Elizabeth George talks to you as if you're in kindergarten. It bothered me when she would say things like "precious one", "dear friend", etc. But other than this I learned a lot from the book and have grown closer to God. I disagreed with some things she said, but it made think and figure out my beliefs.

Every young woman should read this!!!!
I think every young woman should read this. Great readability-you get the feeling the author is speaking right to you-on subjects any young woman could use input on. Any parent would want their daughter to know about, and take to heart, the contents of this book.

A Young Woman After God's Own Heart
This book is brilliant with loads of insight to help teens develop their own personal walk with God.
George writes in a warm engaging manner encouraging the reader to be proactive in their pursuit of a heart that marches to the beat of Gods drum!
Each chapter is filled with helpful suggestions rounded off with with a challenging heart response, a practical "to Do List" to help motivate & a short bible study.
I am presently working through this book with my 11 year old daughter & it's providing her with the tools to move on in her christian walk without me being there. ... Read more